Shutter apparatus for radiators



l 633 794 June 28, 1927. l J' RLEIGH 1 SHUTTER APPARATUS FOR RADIATRSFiled Deo. 23. v192s Y A j x?. f g

Patented .lune 28, N27.

rasant UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

u JAMES F. RALEIGH, QF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'lC PINESMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.'

SHUTTER APPARATUS FOR RADIATORS.

Application tiled December 22, 1923. Serial No.l 682,219.

My invention relates to a shutter apparatus for controlling the flow' ofair through the radiator' "of an internal combustion engine. Anapparatus of this kind is particullarly useful when used inconnection-with an internal combustion engine constituting the powerplant of an automotive vehicle.

The specific embodiment of my invention hereinv disclosed-comprisesshutters which, 1-0 during the operation of the engine, open to increasethe-rate at which heat is radiated tirefiadiatesbetavhielripngdy returnto closed position when the engineases to operate. As will hereinafterappear', I prefer to operate the shutters by fluid under pressure,preferably air, which may -be supplied from a pump actuated by thenormal variations in iuid pressure Within one of the cylinders of theengine with which the apparatus is associated. The fluid under pressureoperates the shutters through the agency of a fluid pressure responsivedevice, which, in turn, is controlled by a valve actuated by athermostat which is responsive to changes in engine temperature, thethermo- 'stat preferably comprising portions in direct contact with thecore of the radiator.

The foregoing and other. features, objects and advantages of myinvention will more fully appear from the following description whereinreference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is adiagram illustrating various elements of my improved apparatus and thefluid pressure connections'between the same; Figure 2 is a fragmentaryrear elevational -view of a detachable type of radiator shutterapparatus embodying my present invention; and l Figure 3 is a sectionalview taken on the -line 3 3 of Figure 2, and looking in the directionindicated by the arrows.

Referring first to Figures be seen that 'I have illustrated a detachableshutter apparatus which in many of its structural characteristics is, ormay be, substant'ially identical with the shutter apparatus describedand claimed inv my `Patent No.'1,458,i593, dated June 12, 1923. Such a50l detachable shutter apparatus preferably includes a sheet metal shellcomprising a mar-v .ginal flange 4, a fenestrated forwardly dishedcentral portiony 5, a shutter frame;

whichis suitably mounted within the shell,

2 and a, it win' pivotally mounted. shutters 7--7 adapted to control theflow of air through the shell' rfenestration, a spring 8 .whichcooperates .pivoted to the shutter frame is moved in a clockwisedirection (F ig. 2). The shell flange 4,is beaded at its outer edge toprovide a rearwardly opening channel which receives a. cushioning strand12. s

Persons skilled in the art to which my invention relates and familiarwith the construction illustrated in my prior patent aforesaid willvunderstand that the `attachment shell is,"or may be,applied to anautomobile radiator by long, slender bolts (not shown) which extendthrough the radiator core and through apertures 13-18 in themarginalflange of the shell, said bolts serving to clamp the outer edgesof the shell flange tightly against cushioning strip l2 and to clamp thelatter tightly against the radiator front in such a way that all, or avery large part of all, of the air which passes through the radiatorcore must find its way f through the shell fenestration controlled byshutters 7--7.

As thus far described, the device of my present invention 4,need notdiffer substantially from a well-known radiator shutter attachment nowin widespread use upon American automobiles. I shall now describe thoseparts of the apparatus which are the salient features of the presentinvention. y

Disposed within the forwardly dished central portion of the attachmentshell and con- Disposed within the upper part of the forwardly dishedcentral portion of the attach- "ment shell `is a therinostaticallyactuated Y. eo

V is of the well-known bi-metal type-and is so constructed that its freeend moves away from the radiator core in response toV increasedtemperature.A The free end' of the thermostat embraces, or is otherwiseoperably connected with,r a valve element 21, which is adapted toreciprocate in a cylindrical bore formed in a bossi 22 which mayconstitute an integral part of the member intake stroke 'of piston 35, apressure substantially less than atmospheric is established in cylinder34. During each compre-ssion stroke of engine piston the pump,

piston 37 moves upwardly to cover )ort 36 and to deliver air intoconduit 26. It desired, conduit 26 maybe provided with a check valveseating against pressure l'roai pump cylinder 37, but such a check valveis ordinarily not necessary due lo the tact that when the automobileengine is ruiming the pump can easily maintain a substantial pressurewithin conduits 26 and 3l, not withstanding the absence of'v such achecl.V valve.

Describing the operation of the apparatus ot my invention, it may beassumed that the engine is at rest and that the several moving parts ofthe apparatus occupy the positions illustrated in the drawings. As soonastheengine starts to operate, the pump 27 likewise operates and createsan air presn18.When--in-thepositien-ill-ustratedn-Fige-siLrre-grcaterthan atmosphericin the con- 1, the valve member 21 precludes communicationI betweenports 23 and 24 Jformed in the aforesaid boss 22, but it will be notedthe said valve member 21 is providedavith an annular groove 21a adaptedto aiiord communication between the ports 23 and 24 when the thermostatresponds to a' predetermined rise in temperature. Port 23 is Vconnectedthrough a 4metal or other suitable conduit 25 with the cylinder 14 andport 24 is connectcd through. asimilar conduit 2 6 lwith a suitable airpump 27 which I shall presently describe in detail.

. It will be noted that cylinder 14 is provided with a relatively smallopening 28 through which, when open, air under pressure in cylinder 14may-escape to a vent 29.

The opening 28 is adapted to be closed by a reciprocating cone valve 30which responds to fluid pressure delivered thereto through smallcylinder 32 provided with an: externally threaded hollow stem 33 adaptedto be threaded into the upper part of one of the engine cylindersindicated at 34 and to afford communication between the engine and pumpcylinders. The piston which operates in the engine cylinder 34 isillustrated at 35. The pump cylinder 32 is provided with an air port 36.and operating in said pump cylinder isa piston 37 which is adapted tomove downwardly to admit air to the upper part of the pump cylinderwhen, during any duits 26` and 31. The cone valve 30 thereupon seats. Asthe temperature of the engine increases, the temperatures of thecoolingw-ater and radiator core likewise increase, with the result that thecylindrical.

valve member 21 is moved toward the position where it affordscommunication between ports and 24. As soon as such communication isestablished, the air pressurecreated by pump 27 is transmitted tocylinder 14, moving the piston 15 against the action of springs 8 and17`and opening the shutters. Since that portion of valve member 21 whichaffords the annular groove 21a is frusto-coiiical in shape, the airwhich is' delivered to cylinder 14 is admitted gradually, with theresult that the shutters are not opened with undue suddenness. Providedthe engine continues to operate, the shutters remain open until thetemperature of the radiator core' has fallen tovsuch a degree that thethermostat 19 has moved valve 21 to a position where it shuts offcommunication between' ports 23 and 24. When this` occurs the springs 8and 9 move the shutters toward their closed position as fast as the airtrapped in cylinder 14 can escape'around the piston 15. The piston 15need not t the cylinder very tightly. This is true .because theair-delivering capacity of the pump 27 is sufficient to render a slightamount of leakage around the piston 15 negligible when communication isafforded between ports 23 and 24. Thermostatically controlled valve 21continues to exercise control over the com-- munication betlween pump 27and cylinder 14, and correspondingly exercises control over the shuttersso long as the engine continues to operate.

In cold weather it is very desirable that the shutters close immediatelyafter the engine is stopped, notwithstanding the tact that th engine maybe Very hot at the time "it is stopped. This operation is assured. by

the apparatus of my present invention. As soon as the engine stops, thepressure in conduit 31 drops to. atmospheric, with the result that valveunseats toA permit piston l5 to assume its normal position, and theshutters `close under. the influence of springs 8 and 17. As soon as theengine is. again started, the valve 30 seats, vthereby again placing theshutters under the control of the thermostat 19 and its-valve 2l. j

While I have describedwhat I now regard to be a preferred embodiment ofmy invention, I do not limit myselfl to :the specific construction vorarrangement of parts herein shown and described, buticlaim broadly allother embodiments of my invention' as it is Vdefined by the appendedclaims.

IVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is:

l. In a shutter attachment unit,the combination of a'shejll, shutterssupported by said shell, an expansible chamber supportedv by said shell,operating connections between the movable wall of said expansiblechamber and said shutters, a thermostatic unit supported by said shell,a conduit connecting with said expaiisible chamber, a valve actuated bysaid therinostatic unit and controlling the passage of fluid throughsaid conduit, and an engine-operated fluid pump connected to saidconduit.

2. In combination with an engine and its radiator, shutters, springmeans tending to close said shutters, an air pressure actuated, deviceadapted when operated to open s aid shutters against the-action of saidspring means, an air pump which functions when, and only when, theengine is operating, a

passage through which said pump may deliver air to said pressureactuated device, and therinostatic means in contact with theradiator forcontrolling the flow of air through said passage.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, shutters, a fluid pressurepump which functions when and only when the engine is in operation, afluid pressure actuated shutter operating device, a passage throughwhichfluid may be delivered from said pump to said device,fand a blockingvalve responsive to changes in engine temperature interposed in saidpassage, saidshutter operating device receiving all ofthe displacementof s aid fluid pressure pump when said valve is open.

4. Inv an apparatus of the yclass described,

, shutters, an air pressure operated device 'for moving said shutters,an engine operated air pump,- thermostatic means for establishingcommunication between the lpump and the air pressure operated device, avent for said air pressure operated device, and means for closing saidvent when the engine is operating.

5. In an apparatus of the class described,

shutters, an air pressure operated "device for movin said shutters an enine o erated air pump, thermostatic inea-ns for establishingcommunication-between the pump and the air pressure operated device, a.vent for said air pressure operated device, and means respon- 'sive toair pressure created by said` pump valve controlled by said thermostatadapted to gradually establish and shut off communication between saiddeviceand said pump.'

7. In combination with an engine and its radiator, an air pump operatingwhen and only when the engine is in operation, sliuty teis controllingthe flow of air through said radiator, an operating device for said'shutters adapted to be actuated by air pressure created by said pump, apassage between said pump and said shutter operating device, athermostat contacting with the exterior of said radiator responsive tochanges in engine temperature,l and a valve controlled l by saidthermostat adapted gradually to open and close said passage.

8. In combination with an engine and its radiator, an air pump operatingwhen and only when the engine is in operation, shut- .ters controllingthe flow of air through said radiator, an operating device for saidsluitters adapted to be actuated by air pressure created by said pump, a'passage between saidv pump and said shutter operating de-` vice, athermostat responsive to changes in engine temperature, a valvecontrolled by said thermostat adapted gradually to open and close saidpassage, a vent for said shuti ter operating device, and meansresponsive to air pressure `created by said pump adapted vto close saidvent when the pump vis operating. r J

9. In combination with an engine, means for controlling 'the flow of airwhich serves to cool said engine, an air pressure. actuated device foroperating said air flow controlling means, an air pump adapted tooperate Awhen and only when the engine is in operation, a passageaording communication between said air pump and said air pressureactuated device, a valve controlling said passage, a thermostat disposedoutside of the cooling circuit and contacting with the radiator foroperating said valve.-

10. In combination with an engine, means for regulating the flow of airwhich serves to cool said engine, an air pump which operatesv when andonly when the engine is in operation, anair pressure actuated device foroperating said air flow controlling means, a passage affordingcommunication between said punipaiid said air pressure actuated device,a valve controlling said passage, a thermostat for operating said valve,a vent for said air pressure actuated device, and means responsive toair pressure created by said pump adapted to close said Vent when thepump is in operation.

11. In an apparatus of the class described and in combination with anengine and its radiator, shutters for controlling the `flow of airthrough said radiator, spring means normally tending to close saidshutters, an air pressure actuated device adapted When operated to opensaid shutters against the action of said spring means, an air pumpassociated with one vof the cylinders of the engine and operated byvariations in fiiiid' pressure within the engine cylinder, acondiiitaffording communication between said air pump and said air pressureactuated device, a Valve controlling said conduit, a thermostat foroperating said Valve,.a vent or said air pressure actuated device,.andmeans responsive to air pressure created by said pump for closing saidvent when the pump is in operation. 12. In a shutter attachment unit,the combination of a shell, shutter mechanism supported by said shell, acylinder supported by said shell, a piston in said cylinder, operatingconnections lbetween said piston and said shutter mechanism, aIthermostatic unit supported by said shell, a conduit connectling withsaid cylinder, a Valve actuated by said thermostatic unit controllingsaid conduit, and alrair pump connected to said conduit, said air pumpbeing connectedto relniostatically controlled valve for said conduit,said expansible chamber havingone outlet for the fluid contained thereinwhen said valve closeswith the engine running, and another outlet forthe Huid contained therein when the engine stops.

v14. In an apparatus of the class described,

shutter mechanism,l an eXpansible'cli-aniber oper tivel connected foractuatimr said a) .Y e

`shutter mechanism, a fluid passageway communicating with said.expansible chamber,

and means responsive to .the stopping of the engine for controlling asecond iuid passageway communicating with said expansible chamber.

15. Iii an apparatus of the class described, shutter mechanism, acylinder, a piston in said cylinder, operating connections between saidpiston and said shutter mechanism, a

fluid passageway,communicating with said cylinder, a tliermostaticallycontrolled valve for controlling said passageway, said cylinder having aleakage path for venting the same when said valve closes witl the enginerunning, and means responsive o the stopping o't the engine for openinga second Huid passageway venting said cylinder;-

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 12 day ofDecember, 1923.

` JAMES F. RALEIGH'.

